On May 24, a group of intrepid cyclists and international solidarity enthusiasts will embark on an exciting 180-mile journey through the beautiful trails and hills of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia to raise money for the Salvadoran social movement and their inspiring work to build a just, equitable and democratic society. The cyclers ride will be a special one: a celebration of the recent election of Salvador Sánchez Cerén, historic revolutionary leader of the FMLN, as president of El Salvador.

35] – There are vigils at 22 Congressional District Offices Across America on Fri., Apr. 4 at 11 AM. For example, a vigil will be happening at Congressperson Frank Wolf's office, 13873 Park Center Road, Suite 130, Herndon VA. RNs and their allies will hold vigils to demand that congress pass the Robin Hood Tax – the only real cure to the illness of rampant economic inequality. H.R. 1579, the Inclusive Prosperity Act sponsored by Rep. Keith Ellison, contains a tiny tax on Wall Street’s speculative trades, which would raise up to $350 billion dollars a year to fund permanent living wage jobs rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, creating a green energy manufacturing boom, providing quality education for all of our children, greatly expanding mass transit, guaranteed healthcare for all and in serving many other human and environmental needs. The Robin Hood Tax would also provide citizens with retirement and housing security. Go to http://robinhoodtax.org/get-involved.

36] – The UDC Law Review 2014 Symposium will be on Fri., Apr. 4 from 11:30 AM through 8:30 PM at the Moot Court Room, 4340 Connecticut Ave. NW. Hosted by The University of District of Columbia School of Law, this Symposium broadly addresses barriers to economic equality and mobility in contemporary America, and ways to overcome those barriers. Noted policy and legal experts will present papers and ideas in discussion panels focusing on multiple areas. Contact John Kinney at lawreview@udc.edu.

37] – On Fri., Apr. 4, the 46th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, honor Dr. King by amplifying his clarion call for total nonviolence and for a world without militarism, racism and poverty and appeal yet again to the powers that be to abolish war and torture, to disarm all weapons, to end indefinite detention, to close Guantanamo, to establish justice for all and help create the Beloved Community!

The vigil takes place on Fri., Apr. 4 from noon until 1 PM at the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. NW. It is sponsored by Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. Contact Art @ artlaffin@hotmail.com or at 202-360-6416.
38] – A vigil for Justice in Palestine/Israel takes place every Friday from noon to 1 PM at 19th & JFK Blvd., Philadelphia, across from Israeli Consulate. It is sponsored by Bubbies & Zaydes (Grandparents) for Peace in the Middle East. Email cswartz@pil.net. Go to http://phillyjewishpeace.org/.

39] – The Chico Vive Conference begins at 3 PM on Fri., Apr. 4 through Sun., Apr. 6 at 5 PM with the theme Legacy of Chico Mendes and the Global Grassroots Environmental Movement. The keynote speakers are Marina Silva & John Knox, and the conference occurs at American University, School for International Service. Visit www.chicovive.org.

The Chico Vive conference is bringing together grassroots activists, NGOs, students, engaged scholars, applied scientists, policymakers, journalists, and others to discuss the development of the global grassroots environmental movement in the 25 years since environmental martyr Chico Mendes' death. Participants will plan strategies to coordinate international actions, networks, coalitions, and initiatives to advance sustainability, defend the environment from depredation and climate change, and protect the rights of its traditional inhabitants. For regular updates, follow @ChicoVive on Twitter.

40] – There is a silent peace vigil on Fri., Apr. 4 from 5 to 6 PM outside the Cathedral of the Incarnation, University Parkway and St. Paul St. The vigil, sponsored by Homewood Friends and Stony Run Meetings, will remind us that War Is Not the Answer. Stop torture.

41] – While this is a First Friday, Apr. 4, there will not be a potluck dinner at Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21218 after the vigil. The potluck dinner and the film screening of BLOODY SUNDAY (Ireland, 2002) will instead take place on Apr. 11. This is a dramatization of the Irish civil rights protest march and subsequent massacre by British troops on January 30, 1972, directed by Paul Greengrass. Irish Catholics led by an Irish member of Parliament (James Nesbitt) try to emulate Martin Luther King and have a peaceful march for civil rights in their own country. But the English riot police think there's no such thing as peaceful when any Irish march, be they IRA or otherwise, and so they plan for a riot. And the IRA warned the local Irish pol that the English would fire on them and that's just what happened. Although no one fired on the English police and no English police were killed, the Irish lost over 30 lives with many more wounded. Children and seniors were among the victims. When the English couldn't find any weapons among the Irish, they just made stuff up to justify their murderous rampage. They were not only excused, they were honored by the Queen!

The Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration Committee and others are continuing the FILM & SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS DVD SERIES. The DVDs usually are shown at Homewood Friends Meetinghouse on the First Friday. At 7: 15 PM, a DVD will be shown with a discussion to follow. There is no charge, and refreshments will be available.

42] – Workers' Rights Movie Night is Fri., Apr. 4 from 5 to 9 PM at Maryland Food Collective, B0203 Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742. JUSTICE AT MARYLAND and the Maryland Food Collective present "The Take," a documentary about factory workers, labor organizing, and development of cooperatives in Argentina. See https://www.facebook.com/events/592453717508705/.

43] – The Arts and Sustainability Dinner + an Award Winning Film Screening is on Fri., Apr. 4 from 6 to 9 PM at the D.C. Environmental Network, 1100 15th St. (11th Floor). See “Kooyanisqattsi” (life out of balance) by renowned director Godfrey Reggio, producer Francis Ford Coppola, and film composer Philip Glass. By bringing arts organizations into environmental conversations, the organizations will encourage public understanding of and connection to critical environmental issues through media as diverse as photography and dance, and produce creative responses to those challenges. By resourcing environmental and arts partners to work together as participants, planners, and performers, the event's collaborations will increase participation in current and future environmental campaigns. Individuals are encouraged to attend in order to meet some of the participants and partners. Dinner will take place from 6 to 7:30 PM, and the film will follow, ending around 8:45 PM. Tickets, including dinner, beverages and popcorn, are $12 courtesy of the Day Eight Board of Directors. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/209516305908851/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular.

44] – See a screening of MISSING on Fri., Apr. 4 at 7 PM at the Peace Center of Delaware County. The First-Friday Large Screen Film Series takes place at 1001 Old Springfield Road, Springfield, PA 19064. Doors open at 6:30 PM for light refreshments. Participate in the after-film discussion. Visit www.delcopeacecenter.org or call 610-544-1818. The film is co-sponsored by the Brandywine Peace Community.

The 1982 film was directed by Costa-Gavras, and it is taken from Thomas Houser’s book “The Execution of Charles Horman.” Music is done by Vangelis. This heartbreaking political thriller is based on historical events. U.S. businessperson Ed Horman, portrayed by Academy Award winner Jack Lemmon, travels to Chile to find his son, who has gone missing during the 1973 U.S.-backed military coup. What he finds is the horror of those seizing power and the complicity of his own government in the brutality. This was the first U.S. film from Costa-Gavras, the legendary director of such political thrillers as Z and “The Confession.”

45] – On Fri., Apr. 4 at 7:30 PM, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton will be speaking at the monthly Clarification of Thought series at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House, 503 Rock Creek Church Rd. NW, WDC 20010. Contact Art at or at 202-360-6416.

46] – There is an opportunity to participate in ballroom dancing, usually every Friday of the month, in the JHU ROTC Bldg. at 8 PM. Turn south on San Martin Dr. from the intersection of Univ. Parkway and 39th St. Drive on campus by taking the third left turn. The next dance will be Apr. 5. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

47] – On Sat., Apr. 5 from 8 AM to 3 PM, the Archdiocese of Washington Social Concerns Annual Conference Making Connections: Encounter, Conversion, Communion & Solidarity will be at DeMatha High School, 4313 Madison St., Hyattsville. Come and reflect on how God may be calling you to serve the poor and vulnerable through respect life and charity and justice outreach ministries. Join volunteers from across the Archdiocese and beyond in this celebration to pray, learn, collaborate and support one another. The cost is $25, which includes lunch. Pax Christi Metro D.C. is sponsoring an Early Bird workshop on “Pope Francis and Peace.”

48] – The Plowshare Peace Center's Second Annual Youth Peace Summit will be happening on Sat., Apr. 5 from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke, 2015 Grandin Rd. SW, Roanoke, VA 24015. Visit http://www.plowshareva.org/event/2nd-annual-youth-peace-summit/ or contact the Plowshare Peace Center at plowshare@plowshareva.org or 540-989-0393.

50] – Each Saturday, 11 AM – 1 PM, Chester County Peace Movement holds a peace vigil in West Chester in front of the Chester County Courthouse, High & Market Sts. Go to www.ccpeace.org. Email ccpeacemovement@aol.com.

51] – Be at the National Day of Action Against Deportations: March and Rally Demanding Not One More Deportation on Sat., Apr. 5 from 11 AM to 5 PM at Lafayette Park, Pleasant & Lamont St. NW. Every day more than 1,000 people are deported. It is predicted that in April two million people will have been deported by the Obama Administration. Amid Congressional inaction, President Obama and his administration must understand that our community cannot continue to wait. The President can take concrete, bold and necessary actions TODAY to turn back the deportation dragnet.

United Workers of Washington DC, together with National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and the D.C. Coalition for Immigrant Rights is organizing a march and rally demanding #Not1More deportation and to tell President Obama that there have been #2Million2Many deportations! People will gather at Mt. Pleasant Park and then march downtown to the White House. The rally at Lafayette Park will start at 2 PM. See https://www.facebook.com/events/550839115013774/?fref=ts.

52] – On Sat., Apr. 5 at 11 AM, the Memorial to the Lost will be on display outside of the Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church and will stay until Fri., Apr. 18. If you cannot make the dedication, stop by anytime you are driving on Connecticut Ave. and pass by the Chevy Chase Circle. The Memorial To the Lost will display 176 t-shirts, noting those people who died in the greater Washington D.C. area in 2013 to gun violence, and will be planted in the church yard to draw attention to 'too many gun deaths' and asking all to act to stem the flow of illegal guns.

53] – There will be a peace vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol at noon on Sat., Apr. 5. Look for the blue banner with the message, "Seek Peace and Pursue It.--Psalms 34:14." The vigil lasts one hour and is silent except when one responds to the occasional questions. Go to http://www.quaker.org/langleyhill/seekpeace.htm or email seekpeacevigil@yahoo.com.

54] – The Vegan Living Program is a multi-week program that meets once a week to discuss environmental, ethical, and nutritional aspects of vegan living. Classes are open to the public on Saturdays through April 12 from 3 to 5 PM at the Mobtown Ballroom, 859 Washington Blvd. Call 425-218-8197 or http://VeganLivingProgram.org. There is no charge.

55] – Interconnected: Exploring ecosystems of movements is the discussion on Sat., Apr. 5 from 4 to 8 PM at Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. D.C. area change-makers, artists, activists, organizers, and community members are invited to participate in a collective mapping of local community challenges and opportunities towards visioning a more holistic and interconnected movement. Participants will test out interactive game elements of Complex Movements’ work in progress Beware of the Dandelions, have an opportunity to reflect on how art and culture and creativity can be woven into social justice and change-making in their communities and build strategies for resilience and justice. See http://anacostiaartscenter.com/event/interconnected/.

56] – A May Day Planning Meeting will occur on Sat., Apr. 5 at 4:30 PM at 5325 16th St., WDC. The event will plan the march on May Day and will unite together to work to end racism, sexism, imperialist wars and deportations. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/list.

57] – The 2014 NATIONAL DAYS OF ACTION FOR COLOMBIA are Sat., Apr. 5 through Mon., Apr. 7. The Colombian government and the FARC, Colombia's largest guerrilla group, have been meeting in peace talks since 2012 and have made significant progress on their 6-point agenda. This is welcome news for those of us who have borne witness to the effects of 50+ years of violence suffered by the people of Colombia.

However, many important questions remain: Which sectors of Colombia are involved in the peace process and will all Colombians benefit from its implementation? We must commit to working together with Colombian civil society so that ALL Colombians, including victims of human rights violations, can meaningfully contribute to creating lasting peace. We must also remain vigilant in ensuring that the peace accords are fully implemented, and that they are not used solely to secure greater foreign investment that puts profit over people--like the 2012 US-Colombia FTA. You are invited to say Adelante! This is Peace with Justice for ALL Colombians. Get involved in 2014's National Days of Action for Colombia.

Here’s what you can do this April 5-7 to join in “Adelante! Peace with Justice for ALL Colombians!" U.S. policy for the last decade has fueled this war. Demand that our government support the foundation for a just peace. Send a message to your Members of Congress and tell them to support the peace process and move away from military aid! Contact Witness for Peace at 202-547-6112 or witness@witnessforpeace.org. Visit www.witnessforpeace.org.

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs